Unitary dehumidifying and heating apparatus for use in appliances and the like



K. K. COOPER UNITARY DEHUMIDIFYING AND HEATING APPARATUS May 16, 1961 FOR USE IN APPLIANCES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1960 INVENTOR. KENNETH K. COOPER M f M H\S ATT RN -Y May 16, 1961 K7 K. COOPER 2,984,088 UNITARY DEHUMIDIFYING AND HEATING APPARATUS Y FOR USE IN APPLIANCES AND THE LIKE Filed June 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IQZ INVENTOR.

KENNETH K. coopza BY paw H is ATTORNEY United States Patent- UNITARY DEHUMIDIFYING AND HEATING AP- }:IAKREATUS FOR USE IN APPLIANCES AND THE Kenneth K. Cooper, Utica, N.Y., asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed June 16, 1960, Set. No. 36,548

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-401) This invention relates to dehumidifying and heating equipment, and more particularly to such equipment which is embodied as a unitary structure for effecting the removal of a substantial part of the water content of a gaseous fluid and the subsequent heating of the fluid.

' It is a primary object of my invention to provide a unitary structure for receiving a relatively cool moist gaseous fluid such as air and for discharging it at a relatively high temperature after a substantial part of the Water content has been removed.

Amore specific object of my invention is to provide a wobble-plate type mechanism for effecting the above function.

Yet a further object of my invention is to effect the desired dehumidification of gaseous fluid by expansion thereof with a consequent condensation of the gaseous fluid, and to utilize the energy given up by the water in condensing to help the compression action on gaseous fluid which has already been dried.

In one aspect of my invention, my apparatus for de' humidifying and heating a gaseous fluid such as air includes first and second spaced parallel rigid walls and a bearing positioned between the walls on an axis which substantially intersects a line perpendicular to the walls at an acute angle midway between the walls. On the bearing there is mounted a substantially rigid hollow annular member which is secured in non-rotatable relation to the walls; the annular member has a cross-section formed as an isosceles triangle with its base seated on the bearing and with at least. one outlet positioned at the apex of one of the triangles to receive water passing into the annular member. A pressure responsive valve covers the outlet and is arranged to open When the pressure on the outlet from within the annular member reaches a certain level. Means are provided for efiectingrelative rotation of the walls and the bearing about the abovementioned perpendicular line, and each side of any of the cross-sectional triangles oscillates once for each revolution between a position parallel to and adjacent the one of the walls facing it and a position extending away from that one wall.

I provide, further, first and second annular bladders which are respectively positioned between the first wall and the annular member and between the second wall and the annular member. Each bladder has a first side section secured to its adjacent wall, a second side section secured to the adjacent side .of the annular member, a flexible outer section joining the side sections at their outer edge, and a dam forming an air tight barrier across the bladder. The dams of the two bladders are positioned approximately one hundred and eighty degrees away from each other relative to the axis of rotation. Thefirst wall and the first side section of the first bladder have a pair of aligned openings formed behind the first bladder dam, and the second side section of that bladder and the adjacent side of the annular member have a second pair of aligned openings formed ahead of that same dam. In

similar fashion, the first side section of the second bladder 2,984,088 I Patented May 16, 1961 communicating with the first pair of openings. The third,

pair of openings is uncovered by second valve means for a portion of each revolution as the annular member provides a contracting chamber in the second bladder communicating with the third pair of openings.

With the foregoing structure, air entering the first bladder through the first pair of openings is expanded within that bladder so as to cause condensation of the moisture in the air. The energy derived from the condensation of the water assists the driving means in its rotation of the device. The air, with the water in the form of suspended droplets, then passes through thesecond pair of openings to the interior of the annular member where, depending upon whether the walls rotate or are stationary, either the centrifugal force of rotation or the force of gravity causes the Water to gather at the apex of the annular member. When a suflicient amount of water has passed into the annular member, the pressure of the water on the openings provided at the apex will cause the pressure sensitive valve to open and release some of the water to the outside. The air, in the meantime, passes through the fourth pair of openings into the second bladder as it expands, and then by the action of the annular member the air thus furnished into the second bladder member is compressed by contraction of the chamber enclosing it until the valve closing the third pair of openings opens to permit passage of the com pressed and dry air out of the apparatus. The compres-' sion' action brings the temperature of the air up so that the air released is both dry and hot.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. My invention, how ever, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following descrip tion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

In the drawings,.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a clothes dryer which advantageously incorporates my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of my invention as incorporated in the clothes dryer of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view along line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view along line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded view in perspective, partly broken away, of the main components of my invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of part of my invention in one position of rotation of my apparatus; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the same parts as Figure 6 with the apparatus in a difierent position of rotation.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, I have shown therein a clothes dryer, generally indicated by the numeral 1, typical of appliances and other machines which may advantageously incorporate my invention. My clothes dryer, in the conventional manner, incorporates a housing or cabinet 2 with a backsplasher 3 having suitable controls 4 and indicating media 5, and a clothes tumbling basket 6 provided with perforations 7 on its cylindrical wall, the basket being rotatably mounted in the cabinet 2. The basket is provided with suitable vanes 8 to assist in the tumbling of clothes placed therein, and is driven through a belt 9 from an electric motor 10. The belt passes over suitable pulleys (not shown) connected respectively to the motor and to the basket 6 so that rotation of the motor causes a rotation of the basket at a speed suitable to effect tumbling of the clothes.

Heated air is provided from a conduit 11 into passageway 12 formed by baffle member 13 so as to enter the basket on the right side thereof. A second baffle 14 on the left side of the basket receives the air after it has passed through the basket and into contact with the clothes, and guides the air back into a conduit 15. Con duit \15 leads into my improved air drying and heating apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 16, so that the relatively cool moist air which has contacted the clothes is passed back into the apparatus, and so that relatively dry warm air is delivered through conduit 11 from my apparatus to the clothes basket. A suitable baflle means 17 may be provided around the basket in engagement with the baffles 13 and 14 to restrict passage of the air and cause it to pass through the basket, and felt seals 18 and 19 may be provided at the ends of baffles 13 and 14 respectively to insure that the air passage will be restricted as described.

My improved apparatus 16 is driven by any suitable means, which may be a separate electric motor 20, as shown, provided with a fan member 21 which blows cool air over a portion 22 of conduit 15 so as to cool the air therein for a purpose to be described. -It will be obvious, of course, that while a separate motor has been shown to simplify the schematic illustration of Figure 1, the motor 10 driving the basket may be designated and arranged so as to also drive the apparatus 16.

From the description of Figure 1 it can be seen that the heart of the structure is my improved apparatus 16 which receives cool humid air and delivers warm dry air to effect drying of the clothes. This apparatus is shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3, to which reference will now be made for the description of my invention which follows. The motor 20, partly shown in Figure 2, has secured on its shaft end a pulley 23 which is connected by a belt 24 to a pulley 25 secured to a rigid wall member 26, preferably substantially circular in shape as shown in Figure 5. Wall member 26 is connected by an annular rigid member 27 to a wall member 28, the annular member 27 being substantially continuous with the exception of openings 29 provided therein spaced around its periphery and for a slot 30 which, as shown in Fig ure 2, extends substantially from one side of the member to the other. By virtue of the connection of walls 26 and 28 by member 27, it will be seen that the walls 26 and 28 rotate together with pulley 25 under the influence of motor 20. The walls 26 and 28 are both rotatably mounted on bearings 31 provided on a stationary shaft member 32 which may be suitably secured to the housing 2 of dryer 1 by any suitable means such as, for instance, by a U-shaped bracket 33. Member 33 has a base 34 secured to the cabinet and has upwardly extending legs 35 and 36 respectively secured to ends 37 and 38 of the shaft 32. In this manner shaft 32 provides a common axis of rotation for the walls 26 and 28.

Rigidly secured to shaft 32, either as a separate part or formed integrally therewith, is an ofiset bearing member 39 positioned between the walls 26 and 28 and canted so that it provides, for any article rotatably mounted thereon, an axis of rotation which is at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the walls 26 and 28 and which intersects the walls axis of rotation substantially midway between the walls. Rotatably mounted on the bearing 39 is a relatively rigid hollow annular member, generally indicated by the numeral 40, which has side walls 41 and 42, a base 43, and an apex 44; the walls 41, 42 and 43 provide a hollow interior or chamber 45 within the annular member 40. It is to be noted, as an important part of my invention, that the member has a uniform cross section which is in, the form of an isosceles triangle having its base seated on the bearing 39.

A further structural feature of member 40 is the provision 'of a number of openings 46 spaced around the periphery of the member 40 at the apex of various ones of the above-described isosceles triangles. Each of the openings 46 constitutes a, liquid outlet, as will be apparent herebelow. As can best be seen by reference to Figure 4, each of the openings 46 at the apex 44 of member 40 is closed by a valve member 47, and each valve member 47 is suitably biased to closed position by resilient means such as a spring 48, the springs being so calibrated that when a certain amount of pressure is built up within the openings 46 the valves 47 are permitted to open until the pressure returns to a predetermined low level. It will, of course, be apparent that any suitable pressure responsive means may be used for closing openings 46 and that the particular valve arrangement shown is merely for purposes of illustration.

At one point on its apex 44 the member 40 is provided with a projection 49 which extends through slot 30. By virtue of engagement of member 49 in slot 30, member 40 is mechanically secured to walls 26 and 28 and joining member 27 so that it is rotated thereby at the same speed, but on its own axis. Because of the relationship of the axes of, respectively, the walls and the member 40, the member 40 will move, or wobble, relative to the walls as it rotates; the engagement of projecting member 49 within slot 30 permits the wobble, by letting member 49 slide from end to end of the slot 30, while at the same time forcing the member 49 to move at the same rotational speed as the joining member and walls. In the one extreme position shown in Figure 2 the upper right hand section of side 41 is parallel to and substantially adjacent the wall 26 at the upper part of the apparatus; at the lower part of the apparatus, the side 42 is substantially parallel to and adjacent the wall 28. When the member 40 is in the position shown in Figure 2 then, if a view ninety degrees removed therefrom is taken, as in Figure 3, the side portions 41 and 42 of member 40 at that point are substantially centered with the walls 26 and 28 and are equidistant therefrom.

Positioned between wall 26 and side 41 of member 40 is a bladder member generally indicated by the numeral 50; in similar fashion, positioned between wall 28 and side 42 of member 40, is another bladder member generally indicated by the numeral 51. Referring first to bladder member 51 it is provided with a side section 52 which has at least a portion thereof secured to the wall 26 by any suitable means (such as, for instance, adhesion) a second side section 53 secured over at least a portion of its outside area to side 42 of member 40, and an outer section 54 which joins the sections 52 and 53 in flexible fashion so as to allow for relative movement thereof. This may be provided in part by the configuration of member 54 which, as can be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3 together, has a fold in it so as to allow movement of the sections 52 and 53 relative to each other. In addition, it is desirable because of the flexing of the part which will occur during rotation that section 54 of bladder 51 be formed of flexible material such as a rubber compound. In fact, the simplest means of manufacturing bladder 51 is to form the entire bladder from rubber as shown.

In addition to sections 52, 53 and 54, bladder 51 is preferably provided with a flexible section 55 at its inner edge which is formed similarly to section 54 and which is provided for the same purpose, that is, to permit relative movement of the two side sections 52 and 53 in response to wobbling of the member 40. As can be seen in Figure 2, when side 42 of member 40 is parallel to and adjacent wall 28 in a particular location, sections 54 and 55 at that location are folded up as shown. The side sections 52 and 53 preferably have an area of enlarged hickness 5.6 and areas of decreased thickness 57 and 58 respectively adjacent'sections .54 and 55 in order to accommodate these sections when they are folded up in the position shown at the lower left and upper right of Figure 2.

The various sections of the bladder provide an entirely enclosed space 59. Within space 59 there is provided a dam 60 (Figure 5) which may be made formed as a part of the rubber bladder, integral with the other parts, joining the sections 52 and 53 along their-full length and the end section 54. Thus, in effect, dam 60 constitutes an air-tight barrier across the interior chamber 59 within bladder 51. It will, of course, readily be recognized that where so desired the darn 60 may be otherwise formed. For instance, it is readily conceivable that the dam might be provided by securing together at one location, from the inner edge to the outer edge, the two side sections 52 and 53, and in the vicinity of that location leaving the. side sections not secured to wall-28 or to the face 42 of member 40. In this way also, it will be seen that an effective barrier across the interior chamber 59 of the bladder is provided.

Bladder 50 is formed in substantially identical fashion to bladder 51, and is provided with a first side section 61 secured to wall 26, a second side section 62 secured to side 41 of member 40, an end section 63 joining the outer edges of the two side sections, an inner flexible section 64 corresponding to section 55 of bladder 51, and a dam 65 (Figure 5) preferably formed in the same manner as dam 60 of bladder 51. The various sections of bladder 50 provide a chamber 65a therein.

The two dams 60 and 65 are positioned approximately 180 from each other. -Various design considerations may require some departure from a truly diametrically opposite relation of the dams: thus, for instance, the relationship of the dams shown in Figure 5, wherein they are about 160 apart, is within the definition of approximately 180, and it is conceivable that proper operation with even a greater departure from 180 may be obtained as long as the dams are generally, on opposite sides of the axis of rotation.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 5 together, wall 28 is provided with an opening 66 which, when the wall and the side section 52 of bladder 51 are secured together,- is aligned with an opening 6'7 in side 52 of bladder 51. The openings 66 and 67 are provided adjacent to and behind darn 60 relative to the direction of rotation of the bladder and the wall (as indicated by the arrow at the left of Figure 5). In similar fashion, the other side section 53 of blader 51 has an opening 68 which, when section 53 and side 42 of member 40 are secured together, is aligned with an opening 69 formed in side 42. The aligned openings 68 and 69 are located adjacent and in front of the dam 60 relative to the direction of rotation of the apparatus.-

Section 62 of bladder 50 and side 41 of member 40 are similarly respectively provided with aligned openings 70 and 71 (Figure 2 only, for opening 70), and this pair of aligned openings is positioned just behind and adjacent the dam 65 in bladder 50 relative to the direction of rotation. A fourth pair of aligned openings 72 e and 73 is provided in section 61-of bladder 50., and in wall 26 respectively, and is located adjacent and in front of the dam 65 relative to the direction of rotation of the apparatus;

In order to block openings 66 and 67 during a major part of each revolution of the apparatus, a valve structure 74 is provided which, by means of suitable felt seals 75- attached thereto, prevents airleakage between the atmosphere and chamber 59. Valve 74 is secured to the top ofleg 36 of member 33 so as to be stationary. Conduit 15, which brings relatively cool moist air from the dryer, as shown inFigure'l, connects with valve 74, and the valve is formed with a recess 76 therein (Figures '3, 6 and 7 which extends for a substantial angle of rotation which may,a's shown, be on the order of ninety degrees. ,Itcan thus. be-seen, referring particularlyto Figures 6 and 7, that during rotation o'fthe apparatus the openings 66 and 67 will be in-free communication through recess 76 with conduit 15 for approximately ninety degrees. Thus, the member 74 constitutes valving means which connects the openings 66 and 67 to conduit 15 for a predetermined portion of each revolution.

A second valving means, generally indicated at 77, is secured on wall 26 so as to control the communication of openings 72 and 73 with conduit 11 leading to the basket 6 as shown in Figure 1. Outer and inner felt seals 78 and 79 may be provided to give a running seal between the rotating wall 26 and a stationary structure 80 provided with a three hundred and sixty degree groove 80a leading to conduit 11. Valve 77 normally closes openings 72 and 73 by meansof a valve element 81 biased to closed position by a spring 82. When the valve element 81 is forced outwardly against the. action of spring 82, the openings 72 and 73 communicate with conduit 11 through recess 79. Conversely, when the valve element 81 is in its position as shown there is no such communication. It will be observed that in this fashion'the valve means 77 is, in effect, pressure responsive, with a predetermined amount of pressure from within bladder 50 causing the valve to open and permit the passage of air into conduit 11.

Completing the description of the apparatus prior to an explanation of its operation, the entire rotating assembly is enclosed by an annular member 83, preferably curved inwardly toward its edges as shown, which is imperforate over its entire surface except at the very bottom thereof where it communicates with a drain pipe 84 leading to a suitable drain (not shown).

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 5 together, it will be recalled that each bladder is provided with a dam. In addition to this during each rotation of the apparatus, the wobbling action of member 40 will cause it to pinch shut each of the bladders along a line which travels in a circle relative to member 40. In other words, the particular portion of side 42 of the wobble plate member 40 which is shown at the lower left of Figure 2. in the position to pinch shut the bladder 51 will, as rotation proceeds, move away from its position toward the position shown in Figure 3, while at the same time the pinch-shut location travels around to dilferent locations on the bladder. Thus, the squeezing together of the bladder by the combined action of wall 26 and side 42 of member 40 will occur in the same position relative to the stationary parts (such as valve means 74) throughout an operation, but because of the rotation of the walls and the member 40 it will, at each instant, be a different part of the wall 26 and the side 42 of member 40 which are squeezing the bladder together. In view of the fact that the dam is part of the bladder which rotates, this means that, relative to the closure created by the dam, the closure created by the squeezing together of the bladder will travel around in a full revolution each time there is a full revolution of the complete apparatus.

Keeping also the thought that, relative to the stationary base, the location of the squeezed-together portion of the bladder remains the same and that the dam travels with the remainder of therotating apparatus, reference will now be made to Figure 6. Assuming that the loca tion of the squeezed-together place is indicated by the dotted line A, at a particular instantthe cool moist air from the conduit 15 will pass through the recess in the valve means 74 and then pass through openings 66 and 67 into the chamber within the bladder which is formed between the dam 60 and the squeezed together location A. This air will continue to fiow into the chamber thus formed until the rotation of the rotating apparatus brings openings 66 and 67 to the end of recess 76, as shown in Figure 7, At this point it will beobserved that the size of the chamber formed between squeezed-together line A and dam 60 has substantially enlarged. As the rotation continues (in the counterclockwise direction of the arrows in Figures 6 and 7) the openings 66 and 67 move out of alignment with the recess 76so that there is no longer any access for air to flow into the chamber between line A and dam 60. However, the continuing rotation causes the dam to continue to move around in a counterclockwise direction thereby enlarging the chamber between line A and the dam. This action continues until, at the end of somewhat less than a full revolution from the point shown in Figure 6, the chamber between line A and dam 60 represents substantially the entire bladder.

When the dam 60 rotates past line A back to the posi tion shown in Figure 6, a new chamber is provided in the small space between line A and dam 60, as shown in that figure. At the same time, the air which has been caught in the previous operation, as described, starts to be compressed since it is now in that space in the bladder 51 between dam 60 and line A which is starting to be contracted. That is, it is in a chamber in front of the darn extending to the squeezed together place rather than behind the dam.

As the expansion of the new chamber in communication with openings 66 and 67 continues, the chamber containing the already expanded air continues to be contracted as dam 60 moves around the circle. However, little compression of the air takes place by virtue of the fact that, in front of the dam with respect to the direction of rotation as previously described, there are provided the aligned openings 68 and 69 leading into the interior of the member 40. Therefore, as the chamber ahead of dam 60 continues to contract, the air is forced through these openings 68 and 69 into the interior 45 of member 40.

At this point a brief discussion of the effect of the operation described thus far is in order. It will be recalled that air ceased to flow into the first chamber after the rotation carried openings 66 and 67 past the point shown in Figure 7. After this point, the chamber continued to expand but the amount of air remained the same. This expansion of the air thus lowered the pressure very substantially. It has been found that this decrease in pres sure is, if the air is at all close to saturation, i.e., one hundred percent relative humidity content, effective to cause condensation of a substantial amount of vapor out of the air. It is for this reason that fan 21 is provided blowing cool air across portion 22 of conduit the cool air blowing across the conduit cools the air down to a point where it is close to saturation with respect to its water content.

Thus, as the air enters the bladder 51 through openings 66 and 67 it is saturated with water vapor, and the subsequent expansion and decrease in pressure are effective to cause the formation of water droplets. In addition, these droplets will generally form themselves about any dust particles or small pieces of lint which may have entered the machine, although generally a suitable lint trap (not shown) will be provided somewhere in the air flow between the basket exhaust and the return to apparatus 16 to catch most of the lint. By virtue of this condensation of the water vapor, a fairly substantial amount of energy is given up by virtue of the return of the water vapor from a gaseous state to a liquid state. The provision of this energy, in the form of heat, tends to increase the pressure within the chamber of bladder 51 in which it is contained in such a way as to aid the rotation of the apparatus 16, thereby removing some of the load from the motor 20 and making the entire apparatus more efficient. As the chamber in bladder 51 contracts, as described above, and forces the cool dry air through openings 68 and 69, the droplets of water are entrained therewith.

Once the condensed air and water has passed into the space 45 within member 40, the high rotational speed of apparatus 16 causes the droplets of water, because of their substantial weight, to be flung to the outermost point possible, that is, to the apex 44 of member 40. Until a certain amount of water has been built up within member 40 adjacent the apex thereof by successive batches of cool dry air containing droplets of water entering the member 40, the water continues to build up within the apex of member 40. However, when a certain amount of water has been accumulated, the pressure which results from the centrifugal force the water exerts on the valves 47 causes one or more of these valves to open. The water thus passes out through openings 46 until the spring action of springs 48 overcomes the centrifugal force of the water left and causes the valves to close. The water ejected through openings 46 is caught in the rotating member 27 which, it will be recalled, is rotating with the remainder of the apparatus. Openings 29 are provided in this member so that this water then is flung out to the outer stationary annular member 83 and, by virtue of gravity, regardless of the position in which it is slung out, it will fiow down to the bottom of member 83 and then fiow out through pipe 84 to a suitable drain.

It will be recalled that as the first batch of air was being forced to flow into chamber 45 of member 40, a second batch of air was being expanded within the bladder 51. This process is, of course, continuous and when the expansion of the second batch of air is completed it in turn is forced through openings 68 and 69 while at the same time a third batch of air starts to come into the bladder on the other side of the dam. When the second batch of air starts to flow into the chamber 45 within member 40, it forces most of the first batch of air to pass through openings 70 and 71 into the interior of bladder 50. As has been stated, these openings are formed just behind the dam 65 so that with the direction of rotation shown in Figure 5, and bearing in mind that the squeeze line for bladder 50 is up near the top (as shown in Figure 2), the rotational motion is causing the squeeze line up at the top and the darn 65 to provide a chamber of increasing size in communication with openings 70 and 71. This causes the aforementioned flow of air through these openings into the bladder 50.

As the size of the chamber within bladder 50 which is in communication with openings 70 and 71 continues to increase, the cool dry air from the first batch described continues to fiow into it. This action continues until the rotation of the apparatus 16 has brought dam 65 around to an upward position substantially the same as that of the squeeze line for bladder 50. As the dam 65 then moves past the squeeze line, a new chamber is opened up in bladder 50 for pulling the second batch of air thereinto from the chamber 45 in member 40. At the same time, the first batch of air, now out off from communication with openings 70 and 71, starts to be compressed between the advancing dam and the squeeze line of bladder 50. This compression serves to raise the temperature of the air appreciably. The valve 81 is calibrated to open when substantially atmospheric pressure or slightly above is exerted on it from within the bladder 50. Therefore, as the rotation of the apparatus continues to contract the chamber within which the first batch of air is contained, the pressure rises until it reaches a sufficient extent to open the valve element 81. At this point the hot dry air then flows out through the valve into conduit 11 and into the dryer where it effects the desired purpose of drying the clothes, and then passes back through conduit 15 to the apparatus 16 for the cycle on that batch of air to be repeated.

In summary, it can be seen that the continuous rotation of apparatus 16 effects on each batch of air, first, an expansion within bladder 51 which causes condensing of the moisture into water droplets, second, a separation of the water droplets from the cooled dry air within the member 40 and, third, a compression of the dry air to a relatively high pressure and temperature within the bladder 50, at which point it is ready to be passed through valve 77 into conduit 11 for reuse.

aasgosa The use of the energy in the form of the heat released tem. In addition, except for friction and heat loss, and

the minor losses incurred in the cooling action of fan 21 on portion 22 of conduit 15, there are virtually no other losses in the system, so that the conventional type of system wherein substantial amounts of heat energy are either released through a vent or washed down a drain as in present dryers is obviated. In addition, it can be seen that my combined expander, water separator, and compressor as represented by apparatus 16 is a unitary structure requiring one driving apparatus and that thus a minimum of frictional and power transmission losses will be incurred. 1

-While I have described a particular structure in which the walls 26 and 28 and member 40 rotate, and bearing 39 is stationary, it will readily be seen that the same expansion and compression action of the bladders is obtained by rotating the bearing and preventing rotation of the walls and member 40. The only difference in operation would arise in the water separation operation: instead of using centrifugal force to remove the water in chamber 45, one would have to depend on the force of gravity to pull the water down to the bottom of member 40, and the 'water would be removed by pressure sensitive means or a pump at that point. In such a case, the operation of apparatus 16 should probably preferably be interrupted by pauses to allow the water to accumulate at the bottom of chamber 45. While such a structure is feasible and is included in the broad scope of'my invention, the centrifugal separating action described in the illustrated structure is substantially more eflfective and represents my preferred embodiment.

. Therefore, while in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for dehumidifying and heating a gaseous fluid comprising? first and second rotatably mounted spaced parallel rigid walls positioned perpendicular to their axis of rotation; means forrotating said walls as a unit; a stationary bearing between said walls having an axis substantially intersectingsaid axis of rotation at an acute angle midway between said walls; a rigid hollow annular member rotatably mounted on said bearing, said annular-member having a firstside facing said first wall and a second side facing said second wall, said annular member and said walls beingv secured to rotate at the same speed; said annular member having a cross section forrried ias .an isosceles triangle with its base seatedon said bearing and having a plurality of angularly spaced outlets each positioned at the apex of one of said triangles; said annular member further having pressure responsive means closing said outlets below a predetermined pressure within said annular member and opening said outlets above said predetermined pressure, each side of any of said triangles oscillating once each revolution between a position parallel to and adjacent the one of said walls facing it and a position extending away from the one of said walls facing it; first and second annular bladders positioned respectively between said first wall and said annular member and between said second wall and said annular member; said first bladder having a first side section secured to said first wall, a second side section secured to said first side of said annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections, and a dam forming an air tight barrier across said bladder; said second bladder having a first'side section secured to said second wall, a second side section secured to said second side of said annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections; and a dam forming an air tight barrier across'said second bladder; said clams being positioned approximately one hundred and eighty degrees from each other, said first wall and said first side section of said first bladder having a first pair of aligned openings formed therein behind said first bladder dam,

said second side section of said first bladder and said first side of said annular member having a second pair of aligned openings formed therein ahead of said first bladder dam, said first side section of said second bladder and said second wall having a third pair of aligned openings formed therein ahead of said second bladder dam, said second side section of said-second bladder and said second side of said annular member having a fourth pair of aligned openings formed therein behind said second bladder dam; first valve means uncovering said first pair of openings for a predetermined amount of each revolution of said walls and annular member as said annular member provides an expanding chamber in said first bladder communicating with said first pair of openings; and second valve means uncovering said third pair of openings for a portion of each revolution of said walls and annular member as said annular member provides a contracting chamber in said second bladder communicating with said third pair of openings.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said bladders are entirely'formed of flexible material.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said second valve means is operated in response to the attainment of a predetermined pressure level within said contracting chamber of said second bladder.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the flexibility of said outer section of each said bladder is at least partly provided by forming said outer section with at least one fold therein.

5. Apparatus for dehumidifying and heating a gaseous fluid comprising: first and second rotatably mounted spaced parallel rigid walls positioned perpendicular to their axis of rotation, a first annular member joining said walls and having angularly spaced apertures formed therein; means for rotating said walls and said first annular member as a unit; a stationary bearing between said walls having an axis substantially intersecting said axis of rotation at an acute angle midway between said walls; a rigid hollow second annular member rotatably mounted on said bearing within said first annular member, said hollow annular member having a first side facing said first wall and a second side facing said second wall, said hollow annular member being secured to said first annular member to rotate at the same speed, said hollow annular member having a cross section formed as an isosceles trianglewith its base seated on said bearing and having a plurality of angularly'spaced outlets each positioned at the apex of one of said triangles, said hollow annular member further having pressure responsive means closing said outlets below a predetermined pressure within said hollow annular member, and opening said outlets above said predetermined pressure, each side of any of said triangles oscillating once each revolution between a position parallel to and adjacent the one of said walls facing it and a position extending away from the one of said walls facing it; first and second annular bladders positioned respectively between said first wall and said hollow annular member and between said second wall and said hollow annular member; said first bladder having a first side section secured to said first wall, a second side section secured to said first side of said hollow annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections, and a dam forming an airtight barrier across said bladder; said second bladder having a first side section secured to said second wall, a second side section secured to said second side of said hollow annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections, and a dam forming an air tight barrier across said second bladder; said dams being positioned approximately one hundred and eighty degrees from each other, said first wall and said first side section of said first bladder having a first pair of aligned openings formed therein behind said first bladder dam, said second side section of said first bladder and said first side of said hollow annular member having a second pair of aligned openings formed therein ahead of said first bladder dam, said first side section of said second bladder and said second wall having a third pair of aligned openings formed therein ahead of said second bladder dam, said second side section of said second bladder and said second side of said hollow annular member having a fourth pair of aligned openings formed therein behind said second bladder dam; first valve means uncovering said first pair of openings for a predetermined amount of rotation of said walls and of said hollow annular member as said hollow annular member provides an expanding chamber in said first bladder communicating with said first pair of openings; and second valve means uncovering said third pair of openings for a portion of each revolution of said Walls and said hollow annular member as said hollow annular member provides a contracting chamber in said second bladder communicating with said third pair of openings.

6. The apparatus defined in claim including a stationary annular liquid receiving member positioned around said first annular member to receive liquid passing through said apertures of said first annular member, and drain means positioned at the bottom of said stationary annular member for the removal of such liquid.

7. Apparatus for dehumidifying and heating a gaseous fluid comprising: first and second spaced parallel rigid walls; means joining said walls together to form a unit; a bearing positioned between said walls having an axis extending at an acute angle to a line perpendicular to said walls; means for effecting relative rotation of said unit and said bearing on an axis perpendicular to said walls which intersects the axis of said bearing at an acute angle midway between said walls; a substantially rigid hollow annular member mounted 'on said bearing in rotatable relation thereto, said annular member having a first side facing said first wall and a second side facing said second wall, means securing said annular member to said walls to prevent relative rotation of said annular member and said walls; said annular member having a cross section formed as an isosceles triangle with its base seated on said bearing and having at least one outlet positioned at the apex of one of said triangles to receive water passing into said annular member, said annular mem ber further having pressure responsive means closing said outlet below a predetermined pressure within said annular member at said outlet, and opening said outlet above said predetermined pressure, each side of any of said triangles oscillating once each revolution between a pos ition parallel to and adjacent the one of said walls facing it and a position extending away from the one of said walls facing it; first and second annular bladders positioned respectively between said first wall and said annular member and between said second wall and said annular member; said first bladder having a first side section secured to said first wall, a second side section secured to said first side of said annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections, and a dam forming an airtight barrier across said bladder; said second bladder having a first side section secured to said second wall, a second side section secured to said second side of said annular member and joined to said first side section at its inner edge, a flexible outer section joining said side sections, and a dam forming an air tight barrier across said second bladder; said dams being positioned approximately one hundred and eighty degrees from each other, said first wall and said first side section of said first bladder having a first pair of aligned Openings formed therein on one side of said first bladder dam relative to the direction of rotation, said second side section of said first bladder and said first side of said annular member having a second pair of aligned openings formed therein on the other side of said first bladder dam, said first side section of said second bladder and said second wall having a third pair of aligned openings formed therein on one side of said second bladder dam, said second side section of said second bladder and said second side of said annular member having a fourth pair of aligned openings formed therein on the other side of said second bladder dam; first valve means uncovering said first pair of openings for a predetermined amount of each revolution of said unit and said bearing relative to each other when said annular member is providing an expanding chamber in said first bladder communicating with said first pair of openings; and second valve means uncovering said third pair of openings for a portion of each revolution of said unit and said bearing relative to each other as said annular member provides a contracting chamber in said second bladder communicating with said third pair of openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 69,401 Bushnell Oct. 1, 1867 2,122,352 Rummel June 28, 1938 2,318,386 Haines May 4, 1943 2,336,580 Yeatman Dec. 14, 1943 2,392,279 Woods Jan. 1, 1946 2,931,189 Sigworth Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 650,278 Germany Sept. 16, 1938 

